Servicing In France

[879JTT]

Has anyone had their Gal serviced over in France? Just think it may be alot cheaper, as generally the labour charges are less. Am going over in August and so would be an ideal time to save some

[Ivor_E_Tower]

No personal experience but I gather it is likely to be much cheaper and you'll get a better job done. If you go ahead, please post the results!

[Richmond]

Sounds interesting, but there must be better ways to spend your hols.

 

My experience of French mechs (more than I'd like, thanks to driving around France a lot in an MGB) is that they are more skilled than their GB counterparts but can be a little slapdash. For example, one rebuilt the alternator for me (how many UK garage mechs could/would do that?), but failed to tighten the pulley nut properly so that the threads were stripped a few hundred miles later. Resulted in a pleasant day in Pontarlier (very impressive modern stained glass in the pretty old church, well worth a visit) and a hire car home.

[879JTT]

As you say there are better ways to spend your hols, with two young kids its no holiday!! However to escape for a few hours whilst my Gal is being serviced will be well earned.

[Guest SA Intruder]

I have found the general standard higher, and the prices to be roughly 33% cheaper - with many "deals" around.

 

I had a towbar fitted to our Mondeo in France in under an hour for EUR160 which was cheaper than me doing it myself here from a Kit.

 

I think major work can be dearer though....from someone elses' experience.

[Guest mstraxs]

Hi

 

I can answer that one! I actually live here so have all my servicing done here. When I lived in the UK I had many cars serviced at main dealers and drive in kwik Fit type places (remember Apples !!!). The standard was always ok I thought but the prices were ridiculous to say the least. Never had my Galaxy done there as we moved a few years ago just after buying it. I found that the smaller 'village' type garages offered a more intimate and reassuring service than the main dealer or drive in places for sure. In fact our last village garage was excellent and reasonably cheap. I love it when they offer to pick up the car, drop you off home, or give you a replacement car.

 

As for France well I can't honestly say I have a lot of experience yet but the ones I have been to have been hyper efficient and very resonable price wise. I have now found a local village garage that put in a brand new engine in my galaxy and have done a fantastic job. So in a nutshell I think the French mechanics do seem to spend more time on your car, seem to take a greater pride in the finished work, are definetly cheaper and to me just seem to go that extra mile.

 

As with most things French you can compare it to the UK 20 or 30 years ago. The pace is slower, the price is cheaper and the work much more hands on with pride taken. If you can afford to wait a little longer I'm sure you wont be dissapointed.

 

Mark

[Guest SA Intruder]

We live here too (mostly!) in Mayenne, 53.

 

As long as you are prepared to take a pace reduction pill, which is no bad thing for us, everything we buy in terms of service seems better. Most of our spend has been with artisans in the building trade, and we haven't come across any cowboys - much more the opposite. There seems to be a considerably greater sense of pride here, which overrides the quick buck ethos in the UK.

[Xenonman]

Servicing is much cheaper on the continent, I had my 10000 ml sevice done at German Ford dealer for the princely sum of